First published in London 1922. A well researched chronicle of many of the remarkable and record bags of the various species of game which are met with in the British Isles, together with some account of the evolution of the sporting gun, marksmanship and the speed and weight of birds. The illustrated contents include: A List of Record Bags - Marksmanship - Remarkable Shots - Curious Sporting Incidents - Long Shots - Speed of Birds - Weight of Game Birds, Wildfowl etc - Shooting Stories - The Press and Shooting etc.

Here is the most comprehensive guide to making your own Native American tools and weapons. This reference takes you through the steps of the basic flint-knapping of arrowheads and scrapers to the most complex decorating and finishing techniques of painting and fletching. Fully illustrated with photographs and line illustrations, this is the perfect book for the survivalist, historian, student, or Native American enthusiast.

Originally published in London 1906. William Carnegie was a well known sportsman of the late 1800's with a vast knowledge of gamekeeping and vermin control. He wrote several books on trapping and many articles for the sporting press of that era. The contents of this book include: The Gamekeeper; His Rights and Duties - Ground Vermin - The Polecat - The Stoat - The Weasel - The Capture of Polecats, Stoats, and Weasels - The General Details of Vermin Trapping - Poaching Cats - Rats - The Hedgehog - Winged Vermin - Ravens - Crows - Jackdaws - Magpies and Jays - Hawks and Owls . The book is well illustrated with pictures of various animal and bird traps with instructions for use and manufacture. Many of the earliest books on field sports, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing many of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

"Truly fine guns are as much works of art as poems, novels, or paintings," writes acclaimed outdoor writer Michael McIntosh in this classic book. And who better to guide us through the world of fine guns than McIntosh. Here, he captured the whole gun--the gun as a combination of form, fit, and function. Divided into two sections, the first on the art of guns and gunmaking, and the last on the art of shooting, this book is, as McIntosh himself says, "a celebration of the gun." Indeed, it's a celebration no lover of fine double guns should miss.

All dogs live forever in the hearts of their owners. But hunting dogs take that love to ultimate dimensions of affection. The dogs and their owners have worked together to obtain skills and understanding of the outdoor world where they thrive. Diversity reigns in this world. There are pointing breeds, retrievers, hounds. There are many hunting dog cemeteries, and field trial halls of fame. For many hunters, the work of the dog in the field is the real purpose of the hunt. The simple pursuit of a gamebird or animal is not the purpose of going afield. The dog work-the radar-nosed probing of cover, the searching gait to check out fields, the retrieving of downed birds-moments spent in these elements are the real reason hunters have bonded with their dogs. The stories here are real accounts of hunting dogs in action. The dogs may be gone now, but the affection they provided and their performances in the field are everlasting treasures.

‘A thrilling new voice in Scottish fiction’ Marion Todd If the dead could speak, what secrets would they tell?With her daughter on an archaeological dig, the only bodies DI Shona Oliver expects to find are long-dead. But when a corpse from the 1980s is unearthed, Shona quickly realises that it may be one of the missing “Girls in the Glen”, victim of a notorious serial killer. Shona’s superiors want her to stop looking to the past, and focus on a fresher crime scene. The attempted shooting of a local politician who likes to stoke controversy. As Shona finds herself pulled between crimes past and present, she soon realises that the secrets buried on Beild Moss are reaching into the present day. But when even her own officers are keeping things from her, who can she trust? Especially when more lives may be at stake… The third instalment in the thrilling DI Shona Oliver series, perfect for fans of Neil Lancaster, G. R. Halliday and Ann Cleeves What readers are saying about the DI Shona Oliver series‘Full of twists and turns’ ‘Shona Oliver is the real McCoy… exceptional leader, mother and wife fighting crime and personal family issues in equal proportions with heart, skill, compassion, integrity and humanity’ ‘Brilliant…I highly recommend this series’ ‘Great twists and turns and … a shocking climax. A brilliant read, I really enjoyed this one’ ‘A haunting and absorbing novel set against the backdrop of a notoriously stunning but dangerous seascape’ ‘Fast paced, unexpected turns and great character development’ ‘The sort of read that keeps you glued and up all night’

August 1781 saw the publication of a manual on fox hunting that would become a classic of its genre. Hugely popular in its own day, Peter Beckford's Thoughts on Hunting is often cited as marking the birth of modern hunting and continues to be quoted from affectionately today by the hunting fraternity. Less stressed is the fact that its subject was immediately controversial, and that a hostile review which appeared on the heels of the manual's publication raised two criticisms of fox hunting that would be repeated over the next two centuries: fox hunting was a cruel sport and a feudal, anachronistic one at that. This study explores the attacks made on fox hunting from 1781 to the legal ban achieved in 2004, as well as assessing the reasons for its continued appeal and post-ban survival. Chapters cover debates in the areas of: class and hunting; concerns over cruelty and animal welfare; party politics; the hunt in literature; and nostalgia. By adopting a thematic approach, the author is able to draw out the wider social and cultural implications of the debates, and to explore what they tell us about national identity, social mores and social relations in modern Britain.

After Minnesota lawyer Ted Nelson Lundrigan wowed the sporting community with his now classic Hunting the Sun, wingshooting readers eagerly awaited his second book, Grouse and Lesser Gods. Part hunting credo, part philosophy of life, this book will let you traipse with Ted into his coverts with his beloved dogs in pursuit of the always elusive roughed grouse. Along the way, he shares his experiences hunting, his love of his dogs, and more personal insights into raising children and his appreciation of the natural world--proving that bird hunters are often quite thoughtful and introspective.

Every year, ten men from Ness, at the northern tip of the Isle of Lewis, sail north-east for some forty miles to a remote rock called Sulasgeir. Their mission is to catch and harvest the guga; the almost fully grown gannet chicks nesting on the two hundred foot high cliffs that circle the tiny island, which is barely half a mile long. After spending a fortnight in the arduous conditions that often prevail there, they return home with around two thousand of the birds, pickled and salted and ready for the tables of Nessmen and women both at home and abroad. The Guga Hunters tells the story of the men who voyage to Sulasgeir each year and the district they hail from, bringing out the full colour of their lives, the humour and drama of their exploits. They speak of the laughter that seasons their time together on Sulasgeir, of the risks and dangers they have faced. It also provides a fascinating insight into the social history of Ness, the culture and way-of-life that lies behind the world of the Guga Hunters, the timeless nature of the hunt, and reveals the hunt's connections to the traditions of other North Atlantic countries. Told in his district's poetry and prose, English and - occasionally - Gaelic, Donald S. Murray shows how the spirit of a community is preserved in this most unique of exploits.

Joel Barber spent 20 years studying and collecting wild fowl decoys from Nova Scotia to North Carolina. Mr. Barber's authoratative volume is the only text written for the true collector and contains all there is to be known on the subject: how to recognize the locality from which a decoy comes, the world of famous decoy makers, the scarcity of certain types of decoys and more.

In medieval Europe, falconry was perhaps the most popular form of hunting among the aristocracy. Owning a falcon, and the necessary falconer to go with it, was a status symbol throughout the middle ages. This book is the first broad history of English royal falconry in medieval times, a book that draws on forty years of research to provide a full description of the actual practice and conditions of the sport and of the role of falconers in the English royal household.

Robin S. Oggins begins with a description of the birds of prey, their training, and the sport of falconry. He provides a short history of early falconry in western Europe and England, then explores in unprecedented detail royal falconry from the reign of William I to the death of Edward I in 1307. The author concludes with an overview of the place and importance of falconry in medieval life.

Richard Jefferies is famous for his tales of country life. The Gamekeeper At Home is probably his best known work, truly reflecting those by-gone days when the Gamekeeper was a vital part of rural activities. He discusses the man himself and how he fits into the community and examines his relations with his family. His area of activity is covered - the fields, the woods, the meadows and the ponds and streams. The world around him needs protection from the predators that kill the game and disturb the balance of nature. There is contact with his dogs and other animals such as rabbits and deer as well as the traditional enemies such as the fox. All parts are brought together so the reader can sense the activity of the countryside and the efforts to keep its integral parts operating in harmony. This understanding is enhanced by the masterly drawings by Charles Whymper. List of Chapters: I. THE MAN HIMSELF - HIS HOUSE, AND TOOLS II. HIS FAMILY AND CASTE III. IN THE FIELDS IV. HIS DOMINIONS: - THE WOODS - MEADOWS - AND WATER V. SOME OF HIS SUBJECTS: DOGS, RABBITS, MICE AND SUCH SMALL DEER VI. HIS ENEMIES BIRDS AND BEAASTS OF PREY - TRESPASSERS VII. PROFESSIONAL POACHERS - THE ART OF WIRING GAME VIII. THE FIELD DETECTIVE - FISH POACHING IX. GUERILLA WARFARE - GUN ACCIDENTS - BLACK SHEEP

The Thrill of the HuntThe Thrill of Living for God The adventure of a lifetime awaits when you join avid outdoorsman Steve Chapman on the hunt for more than just deer. As Steve retells some of his best hunting stories, you'll gain valuable insights on relationships, success, and most important, spiritual growth. With humor and honesty, Steve shares the ups and downs from his numerous treks into deer country. Relive some of your fondest hunting memories and draw closer to God as you read about the wonder and anticipation of a teenage boy's first hunt a generous gesture that turns into a double portion of venison the mixed emotions of a hunter tracking wounded game a father and son who both get their first deer with a bow-on the same day an unexpected encounter with a magnificent whitetail This handsome edition of Steve's bestselling book with a faux-leather binding and a built-in bookmark is the perfect choice for every hunting enthusiast.

Bobwhites in the Texas panhandle, prairie grouse in the Flint Hills of Kansas, Gambel's quail in New Mexico's arroyos, blue quail on the staked plains, and doves and Mearn's quail in Arizona. In these lyrical essays, Henry Chappell examines the bonds that exist between hunter, hunting dog, land, and prey. At Home on the Range with a Texas Hunter evokes a powerful sense of history and place and never shies from the responsibilities and ethical struggles every hunter faces.

Gathered here are many of the finest contemporary sporting writers: George Bird Evans, Charles Waterman, Gene Hill, Michael Mcintosh, Jim Fergus, and many others. Each offers a story of his singular relationship with the dog (or dogs) that shaped his life.

This title details Raif Mair's experiences with fly fishing.

The most exciting time of year for any waterfowler is when summer begins to wane and autumn slowly edges in. The anticipation for the upcoming season is almost too much to bear. Big December Canvasbacks is a celebration of waterfowl and the scenic places they inhabit. It is also a candid look into what motivates the waterfowler to pursue these beautiful animals. With illustrations by noted sporting artist Dave Hagerbaumer, Big December Canvasbacks should be required reading for any waterfowler.

Few people hunting today are really aware of the history of their sport. This concise book shows how this much misunderstood sport has survived and flourished through the centuries of change, to the benefit of the fox and its environment.

This fascinating and highly detailed book presents a training programme for all those hunters who wish to push the boundaries of airgun shooting to the very limits. The author has worked with some of the world's leading air rifle and scope manufacturers to produce this remarkable work. The book contains a detailed analysis of shooting techniques and a training programme for the advanced airgun shooter. It instructs the shooter on the mechanics of the long-range hunting air rifle and scope, and provides instructions on rifle servicing and maintenance. The precision alignment of the scope with the bore of the rifle on which it is mounted is discussed along with the use of the chronograph. The fine tuning of hunting air rifles to improve their accuracy is analysed and the employment of night-vision equipment and other devices for hunting at night and in dull light is examined. Fitness training for the shooter and the use of camouflage is covered. Finally, the mindset of the marksman, the techniques of marksmanship and describes two very demanding marksmanship tests is considered.

"This is a simple, plain-talking, commonsense, and no-nonsense book on hunting the Whitetail," begins How to Bag the Biggest Buck of Your Life. It's the legendary classic that started instructional hunting literature as we know it, and it's in print again. Larry Benoit had spent decades tracking and taking deer in the mountains of northern Vermont before he set down the first word about hunting, and the result was an instant classic. He was a tracker in the old sense of the word, a smart hunter who worked hard for his trophies. He didn't sit on stumps, waiting for a deer to wander by, and he didn't cruise back roads in a car: He hunted. In How to Bag the Biggest Buck of Your Life, he shows how. Chapters include getting fit for the chase, learning to read tracks, advice on clothing and equipment, how to handle a rifle, and how to field dress and butcher your buck. Interspersed are anecdotes from his long career, including the saga of a 13-day pursuit of a savvy, 230-pound buck with 25-inch antlers. It's a book for the hunter just learning to love the woods, and it's a book for the old hand who wants to spend some time with one of the most experienced hunters ever to walk the northern forests. It's one of the gems of hunting literature.

Originally published by Charles Scribner's Sons in 1930, The Wilderness of Denali is a memoir of three years of hunting the area of Alaska surrounding Mt. McKinley. It is a classic of American adventure a book written by a man who was willing to risk his life in pursuit of grizzly bears and the elusive mountain sheep. The account was written each night by campfire as Sheldon discovered what is still regarded as the most scenic wilderness in America.

Kevin "Doctari" Robertson's best-selling book on shot placement for African game, The Perfect Shot, has now been completely revised and updated: extensive additions to the text; 300 all-new photos of the animals covered; and revised, detailed anatomical drawings. The Perfect Shot II also has shot-placement details for a number of species not covered in the original edition, including blesbok, bongo, black wildebeest, grysbok, nyala, reedbuck, roan, and steenbok. In all, twenty-seven African game species are now covered. Robertson, a licensed professional hunter and veterinarian, first developed The Perfect Shot a dozen years ago, and it was quickly recognized as the most comprehensive work ever undertaken to show the anatomical features for all classes of African game. His revised version reflects his increased knowledge of big-game anatomy and shot placement. In addition, the chapters on bullet construction and performance have been substantially revised to cover the advances in bullet development that have occurred in the twelve years since the publication of the original edition. The book covers just about every animal you might hunt in Africa, from the big, dangerous species (elephant, buffalo, rhino, and hippo) to the large cats (lion and leopard) and from the largest antelopes (eland and bongo) to the smallest (duiker, grysbok, and klipspringer). Even Africa's more unusual species (giraffe, crocodile, zebra, and hyena) are covered in detail. Each animal is shown in at least one color field picture as well as a color ";ghost view"; that illustrates the shoulder bones, heart, lungs, brain, and spinal column. These views allow you to see precisely where to place your shot in relation to how the animal may be standing. Most species now have multiple illustrations from different angles for easier understanding of the different shot-placement options.

• Offers expert instruction and in-the-field advice for the novice and experienced tracker

Tracking wildlife successfully requires more than just looking for trails and scat. It requires an awareness of how an animal behaves in its environment--how it finds food, travels, and rests. A tracker must know how to find and interpret behavioral clues animals leave behind. This how-to book teaches the basics of being a successful tracker--explaining what to look for to find or identify an animal and how to develop an essential environmental awareness. Also describes aging tracks and sign, understanding ecology and mapping, keeping field notes, using track tools, and making casts.

Pointing Dogs departs from traditional training guides by treating dogs as individuals with different temperaments who need to be trained according to the individual needs of their owners. This book covers not only field-training fundamentals, but the ten lessons our dogs try to teach us: how to personalize the training to fit the needs of both hunter and dog; how bloodlines, training, and experience combine to form the complete bird dog; insights into a dog's scenting abilities; proper care of a bird dog; and how to live with your dog the other ten months of the year.

All the Powerful Invisible Things is an eloquent memoir of self-discovery and a chronicle of outdoor life. Refusing "impoverished ideas of passion," Gretchen Legler writes about the complexities of being a woman who fishes and hunts, as well as about the more intimate terrain of family and sexuality. The result is a unique literary confluence filled with the ineffable graces of the natural world. She writes: "I used to hate being a woman. When I was young, I believed I was a boy. Throughout college I never knew what it was like to touch a woman, to kiss a woman, to have a woman as a friend. All of my friends were men. I am thirty years old now, and I feel alone. I am not a man. Knowing this is like an earthquake. Just now all the lies are starting to unfold. I don't blend in as well or as easily as I used to. I refuse to stay on either side of the line." Like many women, Legler finds that her presence identifies the unmarked boundaries of where she is and is not welcome, learning when it is advantageous to pass as male and when it is better to disappear into the woods and trees around her. This contrasts sharply with her experience of nature as a source of spiritual sustenance, a space of unparalleled freedom where she can lose herself in something larger. Twenty-five years after it was first published, All the Powerful Invisible Things remains a highwater mark for women writing about the outdoors and is one of the few works to tackle the intricacies of gender identity and sexuality with transcendental aplomb.